After winning her fences class on December 10th, Cazenovia open rider Jesse Vannucci (left) gives wildcat Head Coach Amy Sherrick-Von Schiller a hug. Vannucci was one of nine Cazenovia riders to win classes as the wildcats scored 45 to move from third to first in the Region 2 Hunter Seat Team Standings.

CAZENOVIA HUNTER SEAT TEAM TAKES TWO-POINT LEAD INTO WINTER BREAK

Cazenovia, NY - After the first show in late October, S.U.N.Y. - Geneseo had the lead. After the third show on December 10th, Saint Lawrence had moved one point ahead of Geneseo for the top spot. And after the final fall Region 2 hunter seat show, it was Cazenovia moving ahead of both of them.

Led by a pair of firsts awarded to novice rider Holly Bachor, Cazenovia scored 45 points on December 10th to take a two point lead over Saint Lawrence headed into the winter break. Also winning classes for the wildcats were Elizabeth Redding (open flat), Barbie Lanigan (same), Hannah Geier (open fences), Jesse Vannucci (same), Lindsey Urbanski (intermediate fences), Megan Moehling (novice flat), Jen Mondazzi (novice fences) and Sharla Englerth (advanced walk-trot-canter). Bachor, a senior who pointed out of advanced walk-trot-canter a week earlier and was jumping in an IHSA show for the first time, also won the ride-off for high point, edging Nazareth novice rider Laurin Taskey for the blue ribbon in the bonus class. With firsts at both the R.I.T. and Saint Lawrence shows, Bachor can claim to be undefeated every single time she has entered the ring so far this season.

Nazareth not only had the Reserve High Point Rider, the Golden Flyers earned Reserve High Point Team honors. Besides Taskey's firsts, blue ribbons were awarded to Erica Riker (novice fences), Nicole Paris (beginner walk-trot-canter) and Rama Gecas, the latter pointing out of walk-trot with the win. The Golden Flyers' 38 points was their highest total for the season, eight more than their previous best at R.I.T. on October 30th.

Saint Lawrence ended the day with 34 points. Emilie Grossman won her debut at the intermediate fences level while Esther Demming pointed out of novice flat with a first in that division. Advanced walk-trot-canter rider Spencer Cook was also a blue ribbon winner for the Saints, who will host the next Region 2 Hunter Seat Show on Saturday, March 4th.

From Walworth, New York, Nazareth freshman Erica Riker was one of four Golden Flyers to win classes at today's show. Riker won her section of novice fences while Lauren Taskey (not pictured), another Nazareth freshman, won both of her novice classes. It was the first time this season Nazareth took Reserve High Point Team honors.

Syracuse finished the day with 33 points and continues to hold fourth place overall. With a first in open flat and a fourth in open fences, Orange open rider Marissa Stashenko moved into first place overall in the Region 2 Cacchione/Open Rider Standings. The senior from Medfield, Massachusetts now leads Leslie Miller of S.U.N.Y. - Geneseo by six points while Rachel Ragozzino of Saint Lawrence is eight back. Stashenko is trying to become the first Syracuse rider in school history to represent Region 2 at IHSA Nationals in the Cacchione Cup competition. Her 45 combined points through four shows are already more than Stashenko posted in all of 2004-05. Other Orange riders with firsts at the Cazenovia show were Katie Hauss (open fences), Ashley Puleo (intermediate flat), Kristin Novak (same), Christine Mitchell (intermediate fences), Kerry Ryan (novice flat) and Amanda Brenshe (walk-trot).

The state University of New York at Oswego has proven to be one of the most consistant teams in Region 2 over the first four shows, scoring 23, 24, 29 and now 25 points. Casey Burke earned the Lakers' lone blue ribbon with a first in advanced walk-trot-canter. Burke also pointed out of the division in the process. Four other Oswego riders won second place ribbons.

There was a logjam of three teams with 20 points each. Alfred University was led by Shaina Muir and Stacy Eaker, who won intermediate flat and walk-trot classes respectively. The State University of New York at Geneseo saw blue ribbons awarded to Christine Trimarchi in open fences and Hillary Wentworth in advanced walk-trot-canter. The State University of New York at Potsdam did not win any blue ribbons, however five riders earned second place red ribbons. Nikki Revier's fourth place ribbon earned in the final class of the day pointed her out of walk-trot and into the advanced walk-trot-canter division.

For only the second time this season, the Alumni divisions made an appearance at a Region 2 show. After placing second in her first alumni ride of the season, 1991 Alfred graduate Kimberly Buck (left) poses with former Alfred Head Coach Becky Backer. Though she is no longer Head Coach, Backer still keeps the hunter seat points in Region 2, and her Brentwood Stables facility will host the final Region 2 Regular Season show of the 2005-06 campaign.

Only two of the three Canadian teams in Region 2 were on hand to compete in today's show, and each was short-handed due to final exams to be held throughout Canada the following week. The University of Guelph and Ottawa University each earned 14 points, though neither school had more than six divisions filled on their respective point cards.

The University of Rochester earned nine points, which was not bad with only novice flat and fences riders listed on their point card. Rounding out the team totals was Canisius, with four points. Jennifer Blizniak won her novice fences class but was not the point rider for the Griffs within the division.

Mr. Davison and Mr. Shiland tie the knot with familiar horsewomen!: Not since the R.I.T. show in late October had Alumni classes been held at a Region 2 Hunter Seat Show. As had been the case at R.I.T., three alumni took part in the fences class, though only two had taken part earlier this season. Alicia Fereday, a 2000 S.U.N.Y. - Oswego graduate who coached the Lakers until the end of last season, won alumni fences at today's show. Over the Summer she became Alicia Shiland. Shiland was not the only alumni rider to marry since the 2004-05 season. Nazareth College team co-founder Kelley Pfromm became Kelley Davison, though unlike the other alumni, Davison was not entered in today's classes. Cazenovia graduate Kelly Nyhan remained undefeated on the flat, while another Oswego graduate, Kari Redmond, was second over fences and fourth on the flat. 1991 Alfred graduate Kimberly Buck made her first IHSA Alumni appearance in two seasons. Buck did not jump but did place second in alumni flat. If alumni classes are held at all three spring shows, there is still a chance that several riders could qualify for Regionals. If alumni are held at two of three, unless Nyhan runs the table on the flat, most alumni will have to hope the points are lowered in order to advance to the post-season.

What's Next?: On March 4th, Saint Lawrence will host the first Region 2 Hunter Seat show of the new calendar year. The Saints have faired well on their home turf of late, having scored in the 40's within the most well-heated indoor in the IHSA each of the past three shows (including a perfect 49 on 12/11/04). Cazenovia will then host a rare mid-week show on Wednesday, March 8th. Hopefully alumni divisions will be offered at this show provided several of them are able to get off of work to compete. The final Regular Season show will take place on March 25th, when S.U.N.Y. - Geneseo hosts at the facility Alfred used to train at (before their new on-campus facility was completed), none other than Brentwood Stables in Angelica. The gap separating second place Saint Lawrence and third place Geneseo is currently 15 points. Unless Geneseo can score well into the 40's at the next show (SUNY-G did score 45 at Nazareth and 40 at RIT), it looks like another classic Cazenovia versus Saint Lawrence duel down the stretch run.

--Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Mostly Cloudy, with temperatures rising into the upper 30's. Entire show held indoors. Start time: 9:25AM. Finish: Unknown - includes 70 minute lunch break/coaches & captains meeting. Point cards posted in this region? Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Todd Karn, Fayetteville, NY. Stewards: Drueding/St. Lawrence University, Bouchard/Nazareth College and Miller/University of Rochester.

Team Totals: Cazenovia College (Hight Point Team) 45; Nazareth College (Reserve) 38; St. Lawrence University 34; Syracuse University 33; State University of New York at Oswego 25; Alfred University 20; State University of New York at Geneseo 20; State University of New York at Potsdam 20; Ottawa University 14; University of Guelph 14; University of Rochester 9 and Canisius College 4.

High Point Rider - Holly Bachor, Cazenovia College
Reserve High Point Rider - Laurin Taskey, Nazareth College